Council votes to allow high-rises in heritage district
Posted Aug 18, 2010 06:01:27 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two highrise developments have been approved – again – for the downtown core.
Last night city council voted to “grandfather in” the projects involving the Roy and Discovery Centre buildings, meaning both will be allowed to exceed height restrictions in the Barrington Street Heritage Conservation District.
The two projects were first approved in June 2009, but then blocked by administrative errors.
City Staffer Luke Ouellette says failing to address the error could prematurely end both projects.
“If this drafting error is not corrected, council will be obligated to refuse both applications since there are no policies in the new Barrington Street Conservation District Plan to allow council to consider approving them,” he said.
Plans call for the Roy building to be torn down and replaced with a 16-storey tower while a major expansion will be carried out on the Discovery Centre building.
Members of the Heritage Trust came to council to oppose the grandfathering motion, saying historic low-rise commerical buildings help give Halifax its unique character.
